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After taking over as the starting shortstop during the past two seasons, Eduardo Escobar will enter 2016 with the most security he’s ever enjoyed. According to a person with direct knowledge, Escobar, 27, agreed to a $2.15 million salary in his first year of arbitration eligibility after making $532,000 last season. The switch-hitter, who received permission from the Twins to stay with Aragua thro

Twins left-hander Tommy Milone avoided arbitration Thursday night by agreeing to a $4.5 million salary for this season, according to a person with direct knowledge. Milone, coming off a rebound season in which he went 9-5 with a 3.92 earned run average and his first career save, received a 62-percent raise from the $2.775 million he earned last season. Milone, 28, is projected to win the fifth spo

Seattle Mariners all-star Robinson Cano has served as a trusted mentor to Twins outfielder Miguel Sano since the latter was barely into his teenage years in the Dominican Republic. Now they share the same agency as well. Sano, 22, announced via his Twitter account on Thursday that he had retained the services of Roc Nation Sports, the high-profile agency formed by rap impresario Jay-Z. “I am so ha

With the 2016 Hall of Fame voting results set to be announced Wednesday, I have a confession to make. I am having flashbacks to 1998 and one of the most stacked Cy Young Award races in National League history. Back then BBWAA voters could list only three names instead of the current five. As national baseball writer at the South Florida Sun Sentinel at the time, I spent hours sifting through all t

I've always been a sucker for "Carol of the Bells," especially at holiday time. So give the local nine credit for choosing that goosebump-inducing song -- with a huge assist from the Hopkins High School choir -- in producing an unforgettable marketing video you might call "Carol of the Twins." Along with a guest turn by Twins manager Paul Molitor, the slickly produced video includes references to

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Korean slugger Byung Ho Park received a few extra perks in his four-year, $12 million contract with the Twins to help ease his transition. According to a person with direct knowledge, Park will receive $25,000 per year for airline tickets between Korea and the U.S. He also will be paid $5,000 per year toward moving expenses. The Twins also agreed to pay $50,000 per year for an

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As the Twins continue their search for left-handed relief help, either through trade or free agency, pure specialists will be lower down the list. Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Wednesday he would prefer to find lefties that can handle right-handed batters as well. Ideally, they also should be able to work more than one inning at a time. “I’ve never been one for that one

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- After going through his own cancer scare in 2014, Twins general manager Terry Ryan was particularly moved when he learned New York Mets counterpart Sandy Alderson would miss the winter meetings to undergo cancer treatment. “When I read that, my heart sank,” Ryan said, “because I know a little bit of that ordeal that comes when you’re diagnosed. That’s a sad thing to hear about

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- About half a dozen teams have expressed interest in veteran left-hander Matt Thornton, according to agent Adam Hubble. The Twins, Hubble said Monday, have had multiple conversations about potentially signing the 39-year-old setup man. Special assistant Wayne Krivsky has been the point man on those discussions. “I wouldn’t say we’re close right now,” Hubble said. “We’ve had some

Free-agent right-hander Joakim Soria, still in his prime at 31, is one of nine active closers with 200-plus saves. However, he won’t necessarily have to be guaranteed save opportunities by his next team. “If he’s got to be an eighth-inning guy, he’s got no problem with that,” said veteran agent Oscar Suarez, who represents Soria, “as long as he’s paid accordingly.” The Twins, who expressed interes

Hard-throwing reliever Neftali Feliz, non-tendered by the Detroit Tigers this week, is drawing early interest in advance of next week’s winter meetings. “Several teams have shown an extremely high level of interest early,” said agent Ryan Royster of BTI Sports. “I don’t want to divulge which teams, but most teams have reached out to me in regards to interest at some level.” It was unclear if the T

With the winter meetings set to start Monday, the Twins are among three teams showing the most early interest in veteran right-hander Fernando Rodney. According to a person with direct knowledge, the Twins join the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs in that group. Rodney, who turns 39 in March, finished last season in a setup role for the Cubs, who acquired him in an August waiver deal with the Sea

Miguel Sano isn’t scheduled to play any outfield in the Dominican Winter League, but the Twins are still projecting him as their Opening Day right fielder. Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Wednesday it was "very" likely Sano will be asked to convert to a position he’s never played before at any level. That’s because the team is not inclined to trade incumbent third baseman Trevor Plouffe, in

Byung Ho Park might not hit 50 homers a season in the majors the way he did back home in South Korea, but the Twins are confident his right-handed power will translate. Park, a 29-year-old first baseman/designated hitter, agreed to a four-year, $12 million contract with the Twins after passing his physical exam, the team announced Tuesday. There's also a fifth-year club option at $6.5 million ($5

While the Twins "definitely have interest" in re-signing veteran left-hander Neal Cotts, according to a person with direct knowledge, a lefty reliever they know far better remains in free-agent limbo. Brian Duensing, who has filled a variety of roles since the Twins drafted him in the third round a decade ago, said via email he hadn’t heard whether the Twins were interested in retaining him or not

Twins third baseman Miguel Sano was set to return to the lineup for Estrellas on Sunday after missing 10 days in the Dominican Winter League for non-injury reasons. “He is fine,” Estrellas general manager Jose Serra told the Pioneer Press in an email. “(He) needed to go to the States for a request of his organization, as he explained to us.” Sano, 22, was in Chicago last weekend, according to a pe

Fresh off a starring turn in the Premier 12 tournament, Byung-ho Park is headed to the Twin Cities, according to a report by a South Korean news agency. According to a Google translation and MyKBO.net, the 29-year-old first baseman/designated hitter will depart for the U.S. on Sunday, stopping first in Chicago, where his agent, Alan Nero, is based. From there, Park will head to the Twin Cities, wh

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Lost in the mania over Miguel Sano’s arrival in 2015 was his alarmingly high strikeout rate: 35.5 percent. Add the 68 strikeouts the Twins rookie accumulated over the first half at Double-A Chattanooga to his big-league total in the second half, and you get 187 strikeouts. Or just eight fewer than Adam Brett Walker II piled up for the Lookouts in becoming the first Twins farmh

Outfielder Shane Robinson, a valuable reserve for the Twins last season, is expected to sign a minor-league deal with the Cleveland Indians, according to two people familiar with the situation. Robinson, 31, elected free agency after he was taken off the 40-man roster and outrighted to Triple-A Rochester last month. He hit .250 with a .299 on-base percentage in 197 plate appearances (83 games) aft

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Even for a 22-year-old with a 100-mph fastball and a blindingly bright future, confidence sometimes wanes. Such was the case for Twins relief prospect Nick Burdi, who got bounced back a level in early July after posting a 5.93 earned run average over his first 22 outings at Double-A Chattanooga. In 30 1/3 innings, he allowed 32 hits and 22 walks to go with 33 strikeouts. Six w